Art Berke, a lifelong White Sox fan, has worked at the highest levels of the sports industry with Major League Baseball, ABC Television and Sports Illustrated. He grew up in Northwest Indiana, in the shadow of old Comiskey Park, and proudly proclaims 2005 as the best year of his life. Art offers his glass half-full opinions and observations as he lives and dies with the Sox.

Ah, Victory

After three straight losses to start the exhibition season–two by one run–the White Sox finally got into the victory column today with a convincing 6-1 home win over the Mariners. The triumph was highlighted by a four-run Pale Hose eighth inning, the first Sox homer of the spring and excellent pitching.

The Ups:

Alex Rios (above) gave the Sox the lead in the fourth inning with a two-run blast, the club’s first four-bagger…Tyler Flowers doubled in a pair of runs in the eighth with Eduardo Escobar (a sac fly) and Lastings Milledge (single) adding RBIs as well. Paul Konerko led off the inning with a triple (not a typo)…Adam Dunn (single) got his first hit of 2011 and Dayan Viciedo collected two base hits…John Danks, making his first spring start, Tony Pena (whowas credited with the win) and Jeffrey Marquez each pitched two scoreless innings. WillOhman and Gregory Infante each hurled a scoreless frame. Jeff Gray, who relieved Ohman in the sixth, walked three in his inning of work, but escaped as only one run scored.

The Downs:

It’s nit-picking, but both Beckham and Tyler Saladino were caught stealing by former Sox catcher Miguel Olivo…And, as mentioned above, Gray, who should be given credit for weathering the storm, barely escaped what could have been a disastrous inning.

Sox travel to Tempe tomorrow to face the Halos. All eyes will be on the recovering JakePeavy, who will be making his first appearance of 2011.

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